Rat-killer.



No. 704,576. Piltentt'd luly I5, i902.

J. T. PRIOR.

RAT KILLER.

(Application filed Dec. 10, 1901.3

(JN0 Modal.)

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UNnrnD-j "Sureste-PATENT OFFICE..l

JOHN THOMAS PRIOR, OF PRIORS, GEORGIA.

RAT-KILLER.

SPECIFICATION formingppart of LettersV Patent No. 704,576, dated July 15, 1902. rppnmionieanetemter1o, 1901. serian. 85.403. momia.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN THoMAs PRIOR, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Priors,in the county of Polk and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rat-Killers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichv i Figure l represents a side elevation of my apparatus; Fig. 2, a plan view thereof; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a transverse vertical section on the line 4L 4 of Fig. 2.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple apparatus for automatically killing small animals, especially those of the rodent family; andit consists,essentially,of a springactuated killing arm or arms, a trigger device for freeing said killing-arms, and a tripping-platform connected to the trigger and adapted to be depressed sufficiently by the weight of the animal to release the trigger, and thereby permit the killing-arms to operate, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings by letters, a designates abase-board, on the upper side of which is fastened a frame b, which incloses a convolute spring c, which at its outer end is attached to the frame and at its end to a central rotatable post d, which extends above the frame and has threaded upon it a circular plate or nut e, provided in its periphery with a spiral groove and which is locked in position just above frame b by a nutf. Secured to the post at a suitable point above nut f is a rod g, which lies horizontally and extends to equal distances at diametrically opposite sides of the post, thereby forming two killing-arms. This rod g is preferably attached to the post by passing it through a transverse .i

hole therein and locking it into position by means of a lock-nut 7L, screwed down upon it. Anynumber of killing-arms may be employed;

54 but I deem two'to be sufficient.

jacent to the periphery of the disk-nut c and has its inner extremity resting in the spiral groove in said disk-nut and normally engaging a shoulder m, formed at one or two points in said groove.

To put the apparatus in readiness for use, it is simply necessary to wind up the spring, which may be done by turning killing-arm backward and place a 'bait upon the deathboard. Then when a rat or other animal in attempting'to get the bait puts his weight upon therdeath-board, and thereby depresses it, the trigger 7c will be lifted off shoulder m and the spring will instantly and with great force throw the killing arm or arms around and cause them to strike and kill the animal before he has retreated.V When the weight ofthe animal is removed from the board, the board springs upward and the trigger is free to automatica'll y engage shoulder m after it makes one turn, and thereby reset the trap or apparatus automatically. As will be observed, the spiral groove insures the triggerbeing broughtdown against shoulder fm after each operation, so that the resetting will be a matter of certainty. It will be observed also that more than one of these shoulders or notches vmaybe employed around the spiral groove but I do not deem it advisable to employ more than two. V v

It would be obvious that an essential feature lies in the idea of releasing the killingarms by the weight of the animal, thereby avoiding the necessity of devices which require that the rat shall actually take hold of and pull the bait to trip the killing devices. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is- ,y

l. VIn combination, a base, a spring-actuated. post rotatably supported thereon and carrying a killing arm or arms and also a circular plate provided with a spiral groove in `its periphery, said groove being notched or IOO grooved nut or plate carried by said post, a signature, in the presence of two witnesses, killing-arm carried by said post and arranged thisV '7th day of December, 1901.

horizontally a trio'ger pivoted on the frame and engaging saidbspiral groove, and a, spring- JOHN THOMAS PRIOR' 5 supported death-board connected to said trig- Witnesses:

ger, for the purpose set forth. J. A. WRIGHT,

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix iny HUGHES ROBERTS. 

